Problem Identification
Land degradation manifests itself by soil erosion, water scarcity, reduced agricultural productivity and decreased nutritional value of food crops has been on the increase in the River Kolkpon Basin. Land degradation and drought are causing severe hardship for many people who directly depend upon the natural resources for survival. Women and children, in particular, bear the greatest burden in times of drought. Women are responsible for hauling water and firewood for the household, and desertification can add hours to labour on an already fully charged workday. During food scarcity, the health of women and children are also at greater risk.

The high incidence of bushfires and alarming rate of tree felling for fuel-wood and charcoal production has contributed to deforestation of large tracts of land. The deforestation process has changed the water-holding capacity of the soil and the percolation needed to recharge groundwater aquifers. It also increases surface evaporation, resulting in a loss of moisture into the atmosphere. Denuded soils are more vulnerable to erosion leading to loss of arable agricultural farmlands and increased siltation.

1.0 MAIN OBJECTIVE

The main objective of this project is to develop community capacities and enhance their opportunities to invest in sustainable land management, biodiversity conservation and livelihood development.

2.0 SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

The specific objectives of the project are:

- To develop and sustain the capacities of three rural communities to identify innovative strategies, procedures and opportunities to create incentives for increasing community investment in sustainable land management including integrated water and soil management,.
- To assist rural communities to restore degraded lands through creation of community reserve management area (CREMA) and community based forest woodlot/agro-forestry, wildfires management, natural regeneration establishment and enrichment planting.
- To support sustainable livelihood enterprise development as compensation for the provision of ecosystem goods and services through the processing natural resources to enhance sustainable land management

3.0 PROJECT OUTCOMES

The implementation of the project will produce three main outcomes:

1) Capacities of local people in Chassia traditional area developed for sustainable land management and conservation of natural ecosystem within the degraded River Kolkpon basin.

2) Local communities within River Kolkpon Basin supported to invest in sustainable land management and biodiversity conservation within the River Kolkpon basin ecosystem.

3) Natural resource-based enterprises and alternative livelihood support systems developed.

Outcome 1: Capacities of local people in Chassia traditional area developed for sustainable land management and conservation of natural ecosystem of the degraded River Kolkpon basin

The component activities will seek to develop institutional capacities at community levels to sustainably manage land and conserve natural resources for wealth creation, poverty reduction, and livelihood improvements. Particularly at the local community levels, the project will support the strengthening of existing effective traditional and local systems, structures and services to foster local development and management and to create an enabling environment where private, civil society and community initiatives can flourish. In addition, the project will support the promotion of sustainable land management (including conflict resolution mechanisms) and planning frameworks at the community levels.

Under this sub-component, the project will strengthen the delivery of services, which are fundamental to support sustainable land management and natural resource management, development and conservation initiatives and support the improvement of the delivery of formal and non-formal education and awareness creation programs, emphasizing on the role indigenous knowledge play in sustainable use and conservation of natural resources. The project will strengthen natural resource-based/farmer-based producer and trade associations operating at the community levels.

The community capacity building in land management is sensitive to local priorities. The project will therefore support the formation and strengthening of community land management committees, and activity-based interest groups based on indigenous management structures. At locality levels the project will support the establishment and running of resource management support centres to demonstrate new technologies, train community level groups and learning ground for the academia. Each resource centre will have catchment(s) area(s) of service.

Outcome 2 Local communities within River Kolkpon Basin supported to invest in sustainable land management and biodiversity Conservation within the River Basin Ecosystem

The Component aims at mobilizing five communities to secure existing natural and environmental resources endowments while creating additional stocks through sustainable land management practices, natural regeneration, woodlot and plantation establishments, reintroduction of threatened species and restoration of vegetation cover as well as measures to prevent and control desertification. The Component will focus on activities that would reverse the current damaging production patterns and promote sustainable development of natural resources and protection of biodiversity by involving key stakeholders including civil society organizations, traditional authorities, forest dependent societies and forest fringe communities.

Key areas of support would include:

• Implementation of effective management strategies and action plans to prevent rapid degradation of the savannah woodland, wildlife and water resources as well as biodiversity and specifically soil and water conservation, de-savannization, wild fire control and bush meat exploitation;

• Protection of areas of significant ecological importance including Sacred groves and riverine forest along the River and other areas with high biodiversity heat index including natural habitats known to contain plant species with medicinal and food qualities;

• Strengthening conflict resolution mechanisms and strategies in natural resource management by building upon traditional as well as new institutions and authorities to reduce insecurity amongst particularly the rural communities and increase opportunities for successful economic activities;

• Promotion of participatory community-based land use planning. It is considered crucial that a land use plan that clearly indicates the suitability of the various segments of the land for different kinds of uses is formulated to provide information and to guide informed land uses at community levels. This is to ensure best uses of the land resources of the area for food security and maintenance of a balance between physical development and preservation of the integrity of the environment that provides the enabling conditions for the development of food security strategies and physical development.

The component will implement effective watershed and catchments area management and conservation strategies that will ensure the long-term availability of water resources for agriculture, industry and human consumption and maintenance of healthy ecosystem. It will seek to reinforce common property management systems with the dual objectives of alleviating poverty and improving the management of land, water, pasture and forest resources. It will attempts to link agricultural and forestry services aimed at productivity increase on individual and communal farm plots. The main activities to be supported under this component will be to:

- Rehabilitate and manage community lands through soil and water conservation measures, improved pasture and forest and woodland management
- Conserve and manage community common lands as dedicated forest reserves through natural regeneration, enrichment planting, fire protection, and sustainable harvesting of natural resources.
- Promote water harvesting techniques to ensure all-year round water for farming.
- Broaden the scope of agriculture extension to encompass environmental and civic education
- Manage watershed resources and keep headwaters under continuous cover of trees and associated vegetation
- Assist local level entrepreneurs with training, materials, simple tools and equipment to operate their own nurseries to produce the needed planting material. The project would support the introduction of improved planting materials.
- Support traditional authorities with training and resource to form and operate local fire management and control units. Encourage the introduction of early burning systems in high fire prone areas. Use would be made of the Non-formal educational facilities and local FM stations to embark on aggressive educational campaign on bushfire prevention.
- Train and assist farmers to adopt improved technologies in soil fertility and reduction of farm erosion. Some of the technologies to be adopted and promoted include preparation and application of composting, soil bonding, crop rotation, mulching, preservation and development of indigenous and threatened crop varieties and adoption of agro forestry farming techniques.
- Promote integrated nutrient management (INM). This is an approach of soil fertility management that combines organic and mineral methods of soil fertilization with physical biological measures for soil and water conservation. However the choice of the INM would depend on market situation, the price ration of inputs and outputs, availability of inputs, alternative use of organic materials, labour cost and farmers’ knowledge.
- Support water management in drylands. This involves the construction of small-scale irrigation schemes managed by individuals or groups of farmers based on traditional water management systems. The institutional arrangement would be communal ownership with the owners being active and committed participants in the project design and implementation.

OUTCOME 3 Natural Resource-Based Enterprise Developments and Livelihood Support

This component will provide support in achieving efficiency in the production, processing and marketing of products and services (both tangibles and intangibles) extracted from the savannas and other ecological systems in the northern region. The project will support the development of viable small to medium-scale village enterprises that can be engaged in wild animal domestication/establishment, harvesting, production, processing and marketing of non-timber forest products including live animals, bush meat, wood fuel, honey and bee waxes, shea butter, plant-based oil, medicinal plants, herbal medicines etc. The project will provide funds through the establishment of a micro-financing window.

Special emphasis would be given to the following management practices and technologies

1. Development of Non Timber Forest Resources

• Training programmes will be organized for farmers to learn and develop skills in the cultivations/propagation practices for alternative crops like gum Arabic.
• Training of traditional medicine practitioners in appropriate techniques of maintenance, harvesting, storage and packaging of traditional medicines for enhanced sales.

2. Development of livelihood support

Training programmes will be funded for farmers/local entrepreneurs to learn cultivation/propagation practices for alternative crops. Local business people will be assisted in small ruminant production for animal protein on one hand and organic manure on the other hand for home gardening and vegetables.

The project will create an avenue for members to access small scale loans under strict supervision to set-up alternative source of livelihood since their main source of income i.e. farming, hunting and charcoal burning within the protected zone would no longer be considered. Loans granted will attract an annual interest rate of 5%. Beneficiaries would be taking through financial management and group dynamic training to enable them manage the loans profitably.

FIRST QUARTER REPORT

i. 50 farmers were drawn from the 8 communities and introduced to soil fertility technology
ii. 100 youths were identified and trained as fire fighting volunteers. In addition they were mandated to remain vigilant to prevent the occurrence of fire.
iii.A community fora in project area was organized and about 500 community members attended the fora and made various contributions towards achieving good sustainable land management practices
iv. Infrastructure, customs and traditions, occupations, natural resources and demography of the 8 communities were documented

SECOND QUARTER REPORT
I. A total land area of 180 ha. of degraded land; 60 ha each has been targeted and put under natural regeneration
ii. Six(6) community nurseries have been established at CHASIA, KLAJONG, JEYIRI, DERY-YIRI, KPAKPALAMUNI,and SAWLA, provide seedlings to farmers and to support areas under regeneration
iii. A 10 ha Multi-purpose woodlot has been established at Chasia containing 12, 900 different spices iv. A degraded land area of 300ha have been re-instated through a comprehensive land management system